<p>DeepThroat wrote, "Guess what? West Point doesn't exist to train good corporals and sergeants ..."</p>
<p>Actually, it does ... such training is inherent to the Cadet Leadership Development System. This might be a good place to discuss the subtle differences in leadership training between West Point and Navy. Beginning with major reforms at West Point in the late 1970s, and accelerating through adoption of the CLDS in the early 1990s, the old "Fourth Class System" was replaced by the "Four Class System." As I understand it, Navy and Air Force still mostly retain the "Fourth Class System," though I understand that in recent years both have quietly visited West Point to study the CLDS (the respective academy administrations actually do cooperate and willingly learn from each other in these areas -- the incentive to change is especially strong at AF given their recent problems). </p>
<p>In the "Fourth Class System," the three upper classes harass and "develop" the plebe class. Survive plebe year, and things became relatively easy. Under the "Four Class System" currently in place at West Point, each class has progressively more training responsibility. If anything, demands on cadets become greater, albeit different, as they progress through their four years. Plebes are cadet privates and learn to be followers, basically responsible for their own performance. Upperclassmen are expected to make sure that performance is up to standard. Training responsibility increases each year. Each yearling is a cadet corporal team leader, responsible for the academic, physical, and military performance of one or two plebes. The yearling's military grade depends largely on "their" plebes' performance. Each cow is a cadet sergeant squad leader for at least one semester, responsible for eight or so plebes and yearlings. Again, their military grade will depend largely on the performance of the cadets in their squad. When not a squad leader, cows hold down NCO leadership and staff jobs in the cadet chain of command (academics, spirit, athletics, supply, etc.). Firsties are cadet officers ... in platoon, company, battalion, regiment, or brigade leadership positions or in chain of command staff jobs. At all levels, you are responsible for the performance of your subordinates -- and your military grade (30% of your QPA) depends largely on that performance. Not surprisingly, once CLDS was implemented, hazing went way down and productive instruction and motivation went way up. </p>
<p>Thus, in DeepThroat's words, West Point actually does "exist to train good corporals and sergeants," so that they will later be good officers. The underlying concept is "leadership as service" ... training to assume the awesome responsibility of serving and leading America's sons and daughters in time of war.</p>
<p>Judging by reports of young grads' performance in Iraq and Afghanistan, CLDS works. I've heard and read comments from active duty old grads who, after the obligatory "The Corps has ..." comments, say that the current junior officer corps is the finest in their memory, better than they and their classmates were. They say that CLDS -- which many admit they reflexively resisted when it was introduced -- not only has improved the performance of WP grads as junior leaders of troops, it has also influenced 2LTs from other commissioning sources by the example of selfless service those grads evince.</p>
<p>Cadets who pay attention learn that "ring knockers" are not welcome in the "Real Army" and that know-it-all junior officers don't fare well. Most young grads don't even wear their rings at their respective branch officer basic courses or initial assignments with troops, except at official formal events or at unofficial social gatherings. One son told me about a recent grad who was trying to cover with mud his vanity license plate, a gift from his parents, that read "USMA 05 1." This does not mean grads aren't proud to have gone to West Point, but it does show that they realize that their performance now is what counts ... not their record at West Point. It also doesn't mean that the WP grads aren't quickly identified ... apparently they pretty much stand out ... but rather that they expect no special consideration. </p>
<p>Of course, some proto-martinets do slip through the system from WP -- and from other commissioning sources -- but according to reports, there are many fewer today than in the old days.</p>